Shaping press, specifically for articles made of plastic

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a shaping press for articles made of plastic, comprising two members that act as a shaping enclosure, inside which the material to be shaped is held at an appreciably uniform pressure strength, this strength being independent of the means operating the moving of one of the mobile members of the shaping enclosure.

United States Patent Palencher [451 July 25,1972

SHAPING PRESS, SPECIFICALLY FOR ARTICLES MADE OF PLASTIC lnventor: Jacques Palencher, Troyes, France Assignee: Lebocey Industrie, Troyes (Aube), France Filed: Aug. 25, 1969 Appl. No.: 852,805

Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 25, 1968 France ..175215 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1950 Goldhard ..18/30 LV UX l/1959 Van I-lartesveldt. ..18/DIG. 4 3/1963 Black ..18/19 F 3,105,270 10/1963 Fibish ..18/19 F 3,158,903 12/1964 Fischer et al... ....l8/l 7 J 3,160,919 12/1964 Carter ....18/17J 3,197,816 8/1965 Haberle ..18/19 P 3,214,797 11/1965 Ollier et al ..18/19 P 3,267,521 8/1966 Kostur 18/19 F 3,345,691 10/1967 Aoki 18/16 T X 2,938,232 5/1960 Martin..... 18/30 LD 3,156,014 11/1964 Wenger 18/30 LV 3,517,415 6/1970 McGrath et al. ..18/19 F FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 399,724 1966 Switzerland ..18/19 F 1,337,903 1963 France ..18/19 P Primary Examiner-Robert L. Spicer, Jr. Attorney-McNenny, Farrington, Pearne and Gordon [57] ABSTRACT The invention relates to a shaping press for articles made of plastic, comprising two members that act as a shaping enclosure, inside which the material to be shaped is held at an appreciably uniform pressure strength, this strength being independent of the means operating the moving of one of the mobile members of the shaping enclosure.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 2 5 m2 SHEET 2 OF 2 SHAPING PRESS, SPECIFICALLY FOR ARTICLES MADE OF PLASTIC This invention relates specifically to a shaping press, particularly for plastic-articles, comprising two members, one of them at least being movable, these two members making a shaping enclosure or chamber, the press being characterized by the fact that the material to be shaped is held between the two members by a part mounted on resilient means, so as to hold the material with an appreciably uniform pressure strength, independent of the means controlling the movement of the mobile member.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the fixed and movable members forming the shaping enclosure are mounted on plates between which jacks act which set up a counter-pressure, for cooperating in positioning the elements of the enclosure during a shaping operation.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the plate accomodating the movable member of the enclosure comprises rods facing other rods controlled by jacks provided on the plate holding the fixed member of the enclosure.

Other characteristics will be revealed in the specification text, claims and attached drawing, in which a press according to the invention is shown by way of example, in diagrammatic section.

Consequently, this invention is intended to produce a shaping press which, in an automatic manner enables the shaping and cutting of an article to be efiected, that is to say, separating the article shaped from the remaining part of the strip of material.

Furthermore, this press enables an accurate and speedy working to be obtained, and is so made that when the molding enclosure is opened, an article is obtained shaped and separated from the strip.

In the annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic and diagrammatic illustration in partial cross-section and partially cut away section showing an apparatus in accordance herewith.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the mode of operation of apparatus such as shown in FIG. 1.

The press shown in the attached figure forms a heat-shaping press. However, it must be understood that this press can deal with any kind of shaping, a stamping, for instance, shaping taking place by molding, under the action of a pressure and/or vacuum, or by using a positive or negative molding die, contingently combined with a vacuum or pressure action.

In the example shown in the attached drawing, the press comprises a fixed member 1 containing the heat shaping means or pre-shaping punch 2. The fixed member 1 is attached to a platform or platen 3 connected to a base 18 by columns 4.

Another platform or platen 5 holding the movable member of the shaping enclosure, slides on these columns 4.

According to the invention, the movable member consists of a sleeve 6 bearing on the platform 5 by means of springs 7.

There is also a part 8 inside the sleeve 6 contingently making a molding part, and this part 8 has a bevelled edge 8 at its top end, to enable the sheet of heat-shaped material to be cut to separate the article from the sheet.

There are also rods 9 provided on the platform 5 that can be adjusted by nuts 10, these rods 9 being placed in alignment with other rods 11 integral with jack pistons 12, known as counter-pressure jacks.

These jack pistons 12 are situated on the fixed platform 3.

The platform 5 maintaining the movable member of the enclosure is displaced by means of a chief jack piston 13.

An aperture 14 also emerges into the lower enclosure 13 of the jack 13, in which a rod 15 of an auxiliary jack 15 can slide. The purpose of this auxiliary jack 15 is to effect the cutting of the heat-shaped material.

Valves l6 and 17 are provided for feeding the chief jack 13 and the auxiliary jack 15, respectively, and counter-pressure jacks 12. These valves 16, 17 can be automatically controlled by any kind of programming or delayed-action controls.

This press is operated as follows: When a heat-shaping sheet is inserted between the two members of the shaping enclosure, the chief jack 13 is actuated at the same time that the jacks 12 are fed. The jack l3 rises, having the effect of raising the platform 5 until the rods 9 abut against the ends of the rods 11 of the jacks 12. These jacks 12 then exert a counter-pressure which acts for positioning the movable molding member.

When the platform Sis accurately immobilized, the sleeve 6 is applied with given pressure, against the sheet of material that is to be shaped, by means of the compressing of the springs 7.

The shaping operation then takes place by actuating the pre-shaping punch 2, and contingently by setting up a pressure release inside the part 8, and pressure inside the member 1.

When the heat-shaping operation is finished, the valve 17 controls the feed of a jack l5 and the exhausting of the counter-pressure jack 12.

The lifting of the jack piston 15 has the effect of compressing the fluid in the chamber 13 of the chief jack 13, by means of the aperture 14 and jack rod 15,.

This has the elfect of lifting the chief jack 13 for a few millimeters so that the part 8 is raised and cuts the heat-shaped part on its periphery, by its sharp edge 8 This cutting movement is made possible owing to the springs 7 which enable the sleeve 6 to move in relation to the part 8, and the fact that the counterpressure jacks 12 are exhausted.

When shaping and cutting are finished, the jack 13 can be fed again through the valve 16 for bringing down the platform 5 and releasingthe heat-shaped article.

Of course, the invention is not restricted to the examples of embodiment described and shown above, for which other methods and forms of embodiment can be provided, without going outside of the scope of the invention for that purpose.

I claim:

1. A molding apparatus comprising in combination:

a. first and second chamber-forming elements engageable to define a chamber, one of said chamber elements including a sleeve and resilient mounting means for urging said sleeve against the other chamber-forming element to clamp a sheet of material to be heat-shaped between said two elements;

b. heat-shaping means coacting in said chamber;

c. cutting means telescopically disposed within said resiliently mounted sleeve for cutting out a portion from said sheet of material;

(1. main jack means for closing the first and second chamber-forming elements; and

counteracting jack means disposed for action in opposition to said main jacks means and for urging said first and second chamber-forming elements toward an open position and for applying a counteracting force in opposition to the main jack means when the resiliently mounted sleeve exerts a squeezing pressure on the material of the sheet clamped between said chamber-forming elements;

g. means for moving the cutting means through the material to be heat-shaped.

2. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said chamber-forming elements are respectively mounted on spaced platens, at least one of said platens carrying the counteracting jack means which are adapted to engage the other platen to restrict movement in a closing direction during the course of the forming operation.

3. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein one of said chamber elements is fixed on its platen and the opposing platen is mounted on and movable along rods, said movable platen also including rods aligned with opposing rods actuated by said counteracting jack means provided on the platen carrying said fixed chamber-forming element.

4. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the resilient mounting means comprises a plurality of coil springs. 

1. A molding apparatus comprising in combination: a. first and second chamber-forming elements engageable to define a chamber, one of said chamber elements including a sleeve and resilient mounting means for urging said sleeve against the other chamber-forming element to clamp a sheet of material to be heat-shaped between said two elements; b. heat-shaping means coacting in said chamber; c. cutting means telescopically disposed within said resiliently mounted sleeve for cutting out a portion from said sheet of material; d. main jack means for closing the first and second chamberforming elements; and e. counteracting jack means disposed for action in opposition to said main jacks means and for urging said first and second chamber-forming eleMents toward an open position and for applying a counteracting force in opposition to the main jack means when the resiliently mounted sleeve exerts a squeezing pressure on the material of the sheet clamped between said chamber-forming elements; g. means for moving the cutting means through the material to be heat-shaped.
 2. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said chamber-forming elements are respectively mounted on spaced platens, at least one of said platens carrying the counteracting jack means which are adapted to engage the other platen to restrict movement in a closing direction during the course of the forming operation.
 3. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein one of said chamber elements is fixed on its platen and the opposing platen is mounted on and movable along rods, said movable platen also including rods aligned with opposing rods actuated by said counteracting jack means provided on the platen carrying said fixed chamber-forming element.
 4. A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the resilient mounting means comprises a plurality of coil springs. 